Tibetan Plateau, Tibet is known as the ''Roof of the World'', an
inhospitable region but to certain wildlife it is "paradise''. There are more
than 2,300 species of insects, 64 species of fish, 45 species of amphibians, 55
species of reptiles and 488 species of birds. There are 18 nature reserves,
five of them are national nature reserves. The National Reserves are: - Qiangtang Nature Reserve for
Wild Tibetan Yaks and Black-necked Cranes, Asses and Gazelles. Markam Nature
Reserve for Yunnan
Snub-nosed Monkeys. Shenzha Nature Reserve for Black-necked Cranes.
Nyingchi-Dongjug Nature Reserve for Antelopes. Riwoge-Chamoling Nature Reserve
for Red Deer.
The major birding
sites are: -
Yamdrok
Lake
Yamdrok Tso
Lake, is one of the largest fresh
water lakes in Tibet
with 16 islands. It is the largest home to many species of migratory birds in
southern Tibet.
There are about 153 species of birds, The lake covers an area of 638 sq km, is
at an alt of 4441m and has a depth of between 20 to 60m, The birds
include Bar-headed Geese - Anser indicus, Tibetan Pheasant - Crossoptilon
harmani, Black-necked Crane – Grus nigricollis, Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula
and Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata. The best time of the year
for bird watching is from May to November.
Namtso
Lake
Namtso Lake,
the "holy lake" or "Heaven
Lake" is the 2nd largest salt
lake in Northern Tibet, situated at the edge of Qiangtang Plateau to the north
of Lhasa, at an
alt of 4719 meters. It covers an area of 1940 sq km, inhabited by large flocks
of birds both resident and migratory and include Bar-headed Geese - Anser
indicus, Black-necked Crane – Grus nigricollis, and a large selection
of other species.
Xiongse Monastery
Xiongse Monastery
is located at Caina Village in Chushui
County was founded in 1181 and is the
largest nunnery in Tibet.
The average annual rainfall is 440mm falling mainly in summer. Birds include White-eared Pheasant - Crossoptilon crossoptilon, Tibetan Pheasant - Crossoptilon harmani and Snow
Pigeon – Columba leuconota The best
time of the year for bird watching is in May.
Palgon
Lake
Palgon Lake or Bangonghu in Chinese is 155km in long,
the average depth is 57meters and is at an alt 4242m. There are 5 islands the
largest is Bird Island and is an important breeding
place in Spring Bar-headed Geese - Anser indicus. The best time to watch
birds is from May to September.
Qiangtang Nature Reserve
With an average
attitude of 5000 meters, located in the north of Tibetan Plateau, covers an
area of 2980ha. The reserve is home to Yaks, Bharals, Tibetan Donkeys,
White-lipped Deer, Black-necked Crane.
The best time to visit is from June to September. There are 470 plants and 92 bird
species.
Shenzha
Black-necked Cranes
Nature Reserve
& Tsoe Lake
Covers an area of
40000 ha, was established for the protection of the Black-necked Crane and the Wetland
Ecological System. Set up in 1993, there are many lake-basins belts, the
rainfall is about 300mm annually and the bird list is 120 species. A Black-necked Crane breeding area. Sanglyrire Island
on Tsoe Lake, has roughly 50000-54000 Pallas Gull or Great Black-headed Gull - Larus
ichthyaetus.
Pengbo Black-necked Crane Reserve
Pengbo Nature
Reserve, another name Lhasa Nature Reserve, located at the south of Linzhou county,
covers an area of 9680ha, The habitat consists of valley grass land, wetland, plantations
and agricultural land. to protect the Black necked cranes and its habitat. ResidentBlack-necked Crane around 1500
birds, and about 3000 cranes use this reserve as stop over.
Great
Canyon
of Yarlung Zangbo Nature Reserve
This was
established in 1984, and upgraded to a national reserve in 2000, covering an
area of 62620 ha. It is a major Tibetan tropical ecosphere. There are 94 kinds
of animals, 38 species of reptiles, more than 1,980 types of insects, some
3,000 plant varieties and 232 species of birds. Birds include: - Rufous-necked Hornbill - Aceros nipalensis, Satyr Tragopan - Tragopan
satyra, Temminck's Tragopan - Tragopan temminckii, Red-breasted parakeet - Psittacula alexandri, Gould’s Sunbird - Aethopyga gouldiae, Fire-tailed
Sunbird - Aethopyga ignicauda, Red-billed Leiothrix - Leiothrix
lutea, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant -Chrysolophus amherstiae, Tibetan Pheasant - Crossoptilon harmani and Black-necked
Crane - Grus nigricollis.